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PREP BASEBALL: Optimistic RHS team builds season on 'good fundamentals'

The Ruidoso Warrior baseball team's opening game of the season isn't for two more weeks, but with the addition of Hope Christian and Moriarty to the distric coach Gilbert Alvarado admits it won't be an easy road to the playoffs for the team this year

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PREP BASEBALL: Optimistic RHS team builds season on 'good fundamentals'

Michelle L. Huey, Ruidoso News
Published 8:42 a.m. MT Feb. 14, 2017

With two weeks left until the start of the season, Ruidoso baseball players will have plenty of chances to make the most of their youthful, athletic prowess this year.(Photo: Michelle Huey/Ruidoso News)

Ruidoso baseball team's season opener is still two weeks away, but with the addition of Hope Christian and Moriarty to the district, coach Gilbert Alvarado admits it may be a more challenging road to the playoffs this year.

They will hit the ground running as they host Hot Springs at noon March 4 and then follow up with two tournaments in Roswell. Alvarado said opening the season with that kind of competitive play is just what the team needs.

"The boys have been working hard and seem to get along very well and I think they're ready for the challenge," Alvarado said. "We've got a pretty tough district this year."

Ruidoso baseball players collapse on the field after a chilly practice Monday.(Photo: Michelle Huey/Ruidoso News)

The Warriors finished last season with a 16-12, 8-4 record, falling to Silver in the Class 4A State Playoffs and graduating five seniors last year. Alvarado said this year they are being led by a "good, solid group of seniors" this season. Another bonus for the team is having a nice combination of upperclassmen and younger players that boast a variety of talents.

One such player is senior Kyler Woodul who said key to maintaining a competitive edge is staying hungry without getting ahead of themselves.

"We don't need to settle and be happy with the place we're at," Woodul said. "No matter the wins or losses, we just need to try to get better and come with our heads screwed on every day."

They'll need that steady focus to face the challenges of playing in a competitive district. Alvarado is optimistic about about the season based the "good fundamentals" they are building on.

"We're going to see some really good competition early on, it's a good way to ease the boys into it in terms of playing really good teams but there's not the pressure of being district champ," Alvarado said.

Woodul and another senior teammate, Alex Bates, share a long history having played together since the eighth grade. Both agree the team is like a family, and even though it's old hat for the two, they both are looking forward to the competition. Their excitement is catching.

"This team is special," Woodul said. "We're all brothers. We're all close. There are a lot of returning players from last year. It just means the world to us."

"Baseball has been my sport since I was little and having a coach like him (Alvarado) for my whole high school and part of my middle school career has just been a blessing," Bates said. "He just taught me how to go beyond the game be a good man and act accordingly."

"It is a good combination of trust and confidence, but by the same token, if someone's not doing what they're supposed to in practice, they let each other know," Alvarado said. "That's not something you can coach,"